Nvidia RTX 5080 and 5090 again rumored for CES 2025 launch – possibly alongside next-gen laptop GPUs

A mystery GPU with a colorful burst behind it
(Image credit: Future/Shutterstock)

Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 will be introduced at CES 2025, we’ve again been told – alongside Blackwell notebook GPUs, possibly.

The latest rumor on the next-gen GPUs from Team Green comes from the Chinese tech site Benchlife (add seasoning), and follows the detailed spec spillage about the incoming desktop graphics cards from Kopite7kimi we saw yesterday.

Indeed, Benchlife doubles down on that previous leak, noting that they have received the same info aired by Kopite7kimi on X regarding the spec of the RTX 5090 and 5080 (including the latter getting just 16GB of video RAM).

We’re told that these GPUs will be officially revealed at CES 2025, and that at the same time, we could see Blackwell mobile GPUs to power up gaming laptops – but the site sounds more unsure about the latter.

We also get a clarification on another couple of points, namely that the RTX 5090 will use a 14-layer PCB (printed circuit board) and will leverage PCIe 5.0. Furthermore, Benchlife pours cold water on a previous rumor that the RTX 5090 will use two 12V-2×6 connectors – one is going to be standard on both the RTX 5090 and 5080, the site asserts.


An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 on a wooden desk in front of a white panel

(Image credit: Future)

Analysis: Connector conundrums – and that RAM rumor

It’s good to hear that the 'double power connector as standard' rumor for the RTX 5090 is a false one – at least in theory. However, as Wccftech, which spotted the Benchlife article, elaborates, there may actually be premium Blackwell flagship graphics cards designed for overclocking enthusiasts that have two 12V-2×6 connectors. The point is that the vast majority of RTX 5090 models won’t, though.

As for the purported launch timeframe, the leaks are increasingly pointing to a CES 2025 debut, rather than a late 2024 reveal for the new Blackwell GPUs. All in all, we’re inclined to believe this is the case – as there’s hardly a rush for Nvidia to get the RTX 5090 and 5080 out. Team Green already owns the top-end of the graphics card market, and AMD isn’t even going to challenge in this space with RDNA 4, which will top out at mid-range (if the many rumors about this are right).

It's also not a surprise to launch somewhat later given that Nvidia would want to prioritize AI graphics cards – which make far more money than GeForce models – with the initial top-end Blackwell silicon rolling off the production lines.

While the RTX 5090 appears to be shaping up nicely – for those who want a ridiculously powerful GPU, albeit guzzling a ridiculous amount of power, possibly, and likely ridiculously expensive to boot – the revelation that the RTX 5080 only has 16GB of VRAM (if the spec leak is right) did not go down at all well.

There were cries aplenty of Nvidia ‘cheaping out’ on the video memory once more, as you might imagine – and given that the RTX 5080 is expected to be more powerful than the RTX 4090, it does feel like an underpowered VRAM configuration. (Particularly when on the other side of the GPU fence, AMD equips a current-gen mid-range graphics card, namely the 7800 XT, with 16GB).

There were hints that Nvidia’s looking at 16GB for the RTX 5080 going back quite some way, mind you, but we still can’t leap to conclusions yet (though currently, plenty of folks are bounding across conclusion chasm like there’s no tomorrow, it must be said).

You might also like

TOPICS

Darren is a freelancer writing news and features for TechRadar (and occasionally T3) across a broad range of computing topics including CPUs, GPUs, various other hardware, VPNs, antivirus and more. He has written about tech for the best part of three decades, and writes books in his spare time (his debut novel - 'I Know What You Did Last Supper' - was published by Hachette UK in 2013).

Read more
Four Asus ROG Strix gaming laptops set up on a desk.
Asus gaming laptops leak with RTX 5090, 5080 and 5070 Ti GPUs, sparking excitement about a CES 2025 reveal
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 on a wooden desk in front of a white panel
Latest Nvidia RTX 5000 power usage rumors make me scared that my PSU will be nowhere near enough for the RTX 5080
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super on a desk
What to expect from Nvidia in 2025
An Nvidia RTX 4090
Uh oh... Zotac just leaked Nvidia’s next-gen launch line-up, including RTX 5090 GPU with 32GB of VRAM
Nvidia geforce 4070
Nvidia RTX 5050 to 5090 laptop GPUs spotted, suggesting next-gen graphics cards are ready for rumored CES 2025 launch
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super on a desk
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 appears to leak ahead of possible CES 2025 announcement
Latest in GPU
A character riding their horse through the Japanese landscape of in Rise of the Ronin
Another day, another dreadful PC port - Rise of the Ronin joins the list of woeful PC launches with even an Nvidia RTX 4090 succumbing to stutters
An AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT made by Sapphire on a table with its retail packaging
AMD describes its recent RDNA 4 GPU launch as 'unprecedented' and promises restocking the Radeon RX 9070 XT as 'priority number one'
An AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT vs RX 9070 against a red two-tone background
Well, AMD's Radeon RX 9070 series launch isn't going as smoothly as we thought - and it's because retailers have inflated prices
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070
Nvidia RTX 5080 stock is so barren that retailers are holding competitions where you can "win" the right to buy one for MSRP
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
Nvidia could unleash RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti GPUs on PC gamers tomorrow, but there’s no sign of rumored RTX 5050 yet
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 on a table with its retail packaging
Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU spotted in Acer gaming PC, suggesting rumors of imminent launch are correct – and that it’ll run with only 8GB of video RAM
Latest in News
Super Mario Odyssey
ChatGPT is the ultimate gaming tool - here's 4 ways you can use AI to help with your next playthrough
Ray-Ban smart glasses with the Cpperni logo, an LED array, and a MacBook Air with M4 next to ecah other.
ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from Twitter's massive outage to iRobot's impressive new Roombas
Brad Pitt looks over his right shoulder with 'F1' written behind him
Apple Original Films will take you behind-the-scenes of a racing cockpit in this new thrilling F1 movie trailer
AI writer
Coding AI tells developer to write it himself
Reacher looking down at another character from the Prime Video TV series Reacher
Reacher season 3 becomes Prime Video’s biggest returning show thanks to Hollywood’s biggest heavyweight
Finger Presses Orange Button Domain Name Registration on Black Keyboard Background. Closeup View
I visited the world’s first registered .com domain – and you won’t believe what it’s offering today